Lady Zebras to help
fill out CRC roster

Gretchen Hunt
Editor

After six years without women's basketball, Crowley's Ridge College will again field a team. Two Lady Zebras, Megan Jones and Haley Slusser, have signed to be a part of the first team back on the hardwood.

Now a four-year college, CRC head coach Tye Clothier expects the team to have better depth as it will be able to keep students for four years. Recruitment is also being aided by the school's new scholarship program.

Having two Lady Zebras moving on to the college level is exciting, said Black Rock coach Malessie Mosier. Add to that the fact that Jones and Slusser are the first scholarship recipients to sign to play at CRC, and the excitement grows.

"I don't know that we've ever had anyone sign for women's college basketball out of Black Rock," Mosier said. "This is really huge for our program, our school and our community."

Mosier said she believes signing the two together will be a boost to the CRC program, as well.

"They play really great together," she said. "If one deflects, the other steals. It's like they know it's going to happen before it does."

Slusser

Slusser, who was named All-Conference and All-NEA Tournament, averages 19 points a game and has an 89 percent free throw percentage.

"She is definitely an offensive threat," Mosier said. "She is not afraid to drive inside. She's not intimidated."

She can also help out on defense, though.

"She gets her hands on a lot of deflections and makes steals," Mosier said. "She is a great transition player.

Slusser also averaged four steals per game, as well as five assists and five rebounds.

She credits a lot of her success to her coach and teammates.

"My coach has always pushed me to do the best that I can, and she's taught me the skills I need to know to be able to play at the next level," Slusser said.

"My teammates have always been there to encourage me and push me to do my best."

She is happy to be moving on with one of those teammates at her side.

"It's a great experience that I'm going to be able to go on to play college basketball with other girls who are playing at that next level," she said. "It's nice that I have a teammate who's going with me."

Slusser is the daughter of Coy Sr. and Joann Slusser of Black Rock.

Jones

Mosier credits Jones with being her leading defensive player.

"She's my leading rebounder," she said. "She can change an opponent's offense with her defense in a split second.

Jones averaged 10 rebounds a game, as well as four deflections and four steals.

She was also a contributor on offense, averaging eight points per game and shooting 87 percent from the free-throw line.

"She is a great outside shooter," Mosier said.

Jones is looking forward to playing at CRC.

"It's one of the greatest experiences that I'll probably ever go through," she said. "It's basketball, and basketball is my life. Every senior basketball player's dream is to be able to keep going on."

She said her teammates, coach and the fans have given her the drive she needs on the court.

"I always want to play my best for my teammates and my coach," Jones said. "We have great fans. Black Rock really supports high school sports."

She said she feels being a Lady Zebra has prepared her to play college ball.

"Coach has always taught us to never give up and never quit," Jones said. "She tells us any team can be beaten on any given night. It doesn't matter if you're number one or number 20. Always play your heart out."